Laundry ironing machine



.Nov. 3,.1953 H. c. A. ZWAARD LAUNDRY IRONING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1948 Patented Nov. 3, 1953 LAUNDRY IRONING MACHINE Henricus C. A. Zwaard, Rijswijk, Netherlands, assignor to Machinefabriek Reineveld N. V., Delft, Netherlands, a company of the Netherlands Application October 14, 1948, Serial No. 54,391 Claims priority, application Netherlands October 27, 1947 6 Claims. (01. 38-58) Laundry ironing machines are ordinarily provided with means for varying the pressure exerted by the clothed roller and its polishing bed on one another, reference being had, inter alia,

to the British patent specification 58,184. In these known machines the bearings of the roller trunnions are each connected to one member of a telescopic rod, the other member of which is associated with a crank at the corresponding end of a shaft disposed in parallel relation with the roller axis and adapted to be rotated by suitable actuating mechanism, a resilient element such as a spring being interposed between both members of each telescopic rod in such manner as to allow the roller to yield to excessive pressure as may be set up by the passage of abnormally thick wearing apparel. With this construction, the ends ofthe roller are adapted to yield through different distances, so that the roller may temporarily get out of parallelism with its bed, whereby the cloth of the roller is likely to shift, the consequence being that the thickness of the cloth at one end exceeds that at the opposite end, so that the roller assumes a permanent inclination relative to its bed and the satisfactory operation of the machine is impaired.

The means under review ordinarily also serve for lifting the roller from its bed, although this function could as well be performed by a separate lifting gear.

The present invention, which has for its object to avoid the inconvenience referred to above, is suitable for laundry ironing machines of any description, wherein the bearings of the roller trunnions are associated, through a suitable lever system, with mechanism for lifting and lowering the roller, and it primarily consists herein that all elements of the lever system are rigid and that the said resilient element is interposed in the actuating mechanism. Owing thereto, it is impossible for one end of the roller to move up or down and thereby increase or decrease the tension of the resilient element, withoutthe'other end performing an equal movement, abstracting, of course, from possible slight clearances and torsions in the various parts of the pressure controlling means.

Reference is had to the diagrammatic drawing, in whichFigs. 1 and 2 illustrate an elevation and an end view, respectively, of a preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 being an end view of part of a second embodiment.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the clothed roller is designated by 4, the stationary, heated polishing bed by 5. Each of the bearings 6 and I of the roller trunnions is pivoted to the top end of a crank rod 8, 9 respectively, the lower end of which is asso- 10 which is pivoted to the frame.

. rods 8, 9.

ciated with a crank I II, I I, respectively, keyed to a shaft I2, which extends in parallel relation with the roller axis and is supported vertically below the roller in bearings of the frame of the machine. The crank rods are of equal lengths, and the same is the case with the two cranks, which, moreover, are parallel with one another.

Each bearing 6, 1 is associated with one end of a normally horizontal arm I3, the other end of The drawing shows only one of said arms, which are parallel and of equal lengths.

From the foregoing it follows that rotation of the crank shaft I2 causes the roller to perform movement, in parallel relation with itself, in a circular path about the stationary common axis of rotation of the arms I3. Dependent upon the direction of rotation of said shaft, the roller 4 is lifted from, or urged towards its bed '5.

With a view to imparting rotary motion to shaft I2, a segment of a worm wheel I 4 is keyed thereto, said segment meshing with a worm I6 keyed to a horizontal, transverse shaft I5. Said transverse shaft, which is provided with a handwheel I50, and is lengthwise movable in bearing blocks I 1, It secured to the frame, is also provided with a collar I9 adapted to abut against the bearing block I8. Interposed between, and bearing against both worm I6 and bearing block I! is a coiled spring 26 encircling shaft I5. Bearing I8 is provided with a scale 2| enabling the operator to read the distance from collar I9 to block I8, corresponding to the length of spring 29.

Let us assume the various parts of the machine to be so adjusted that, with the bed loaded exclusively by the weight of the roller, collar I9 engages block I3 and spring 20, in unloaded condition, engages both the block I! and the worm I 6. If handwheel I-5a is now turned in the proper direction, the shaft I2 will be rotated in anticlockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2, whereby the bed will be gradually relieved from load and the roller will eventually be lifted therefrom, its axis remaining parallel to the bed. The pressure exerted by segment It on worm It holds collar It in engagement with block I8, spring 26 remaining unloaded. If, thereupon, handwheel I511 is turned in opposite, i. e. clockwise direction, the roller l4 will first descend until original conditions are restored, whereupon worm F6, in conjunction with the transverse shaft I5, is gradually moved to the left so as to load spring 26. The pressure of loaded spring 20 is transmitted, as an additional ironing pressure in excess of the weight of the roller, to the latter through the medium of worm I6, segment I l, shaft I2, cranks I0, II and Said additional ironing pressure can 3 be read from scale 2| and is adapted for fine adjustment. In known ironing machines, the pressure exerted by theroller on its bed rather sud: denly increases,- from zero to a maximum value,- from the moment wherein the descending roller engages its bed, so that accurate adjustment Off said pressure is difficult to realize.

Fig. 3 shows that the collar 19 on shaft-1'15 as illustrated in Fig. 2, is substitntedwy; a; ;co il ed;;

spring 22 interposed betwee, wormifi -and. block;

18. Be it assumed that the machine:is sQ adjusted that, with the worm IS in a position corresponding to zero on scale 2 I, the weight oiiroller. 4 supported by bed 5 is just comp infi tedby spifingl; 22.

If, now, handwheel a is turned in the direction required for lifting the roller, the latter immediately begins to rise. Subsequent rotation of the handwheel in'theopposite direction will first. restore; thev initial conditions; whereupon the weight of the roller-will be gradually transmitted i to .the bed =5; spring22 being .graduallytrelaxed, and spring 26 being gradually compressed. The; moment wherein the; fullajweight -.of= :the roller hasv been transmitted to the bed, thetension of. spring EB-beginsto act as an-additional ironing: pressure. Inthis embodiment, scale 2 1 indicates the :abso lute ,value of ;the:: ironing. "pressure;

Owing to wear and tear;oi-.;the clothwwhereby the roller is coated, the cranks 10, wills. radually-1nove downward; througha very slight angulardistancez; However; the ironingzpres sure is always 'determined' -by the length. of spring ec that any onepffithe divisional linesioiscale 2| will always :correspondto oneandtheg'sa fil t.v valueof said pressure.

Without departing from: the; scope the spirit of the invention, the cranksifi, ll may be substituted, for instance, by eccentrios and movement of. the transverse-shaft i5vm iy betransmitted to shaft l2 by mennsioi a prank, on; the latter, saidcranlr having-1a slot engaged ,by a pin on thetransverse shaft: in which casethe crank. should be spring loaded. Furthermore, the two springsdrawn; in Fig. ,-,3 ;may-- be substie tuted by one single spring, Whichthi'Ougn-part of its stroke, is put underztensioniand through another part is compressed; Again; the coiled; springs may be replacedby rubber-buiiers, or by; counterweights. If; the, roller; is; supported: in stationary bearings, its bed shouldbeiadapted; to be moved towards; the roller by means of; the lever system and the mechanism; described henee inbefore.

What I is;-

1. Inaiaundry ironing" machine, including a supporting frame, a stationary:ironing ,-memberanda movableironing member movably mounted on said .trame so as to be adapted to be raised and lowered and engaging saidistationaryjironing member in a lowered position; an operating. arrangement for saidmovable ironing member, comprising in combination,- an'operating ,member mounted in said supporting frame movable-in two opposite directions corresponding; to raising and lowering of said movable ironing. member, res ectively; and motion-transmitting means positively connecting said, operating, member with said movable. ironing member forraising the latter, and including resilient means. resiliently connecting said .operatingmember-with, saidmovable ironing member. during lowering; the latter, so that when movement-oi said mov-e able ironing member is blocked by ,saidstationary. ironing member, said movable ironing member is resiliently pressed against said stationary iron- 4 ing member during further movement of said operating member in a lowering direction.

253111 ,;a laundry; ironing -mac hine including a supporting frame, a stationary. ironing'rmember and a movable ironing member mounted on said supporting frame so as to be adapted to be raised from an operative position engaging said stationary ironing member into an inoperative position, ,spaced;.thr:@ ;1qom and to be lowered from said-inoperatiy .position to said operative position; anibperatingarrangement for the movable ironing member; comprising in combination, worm gear meansrotatably mounted on said supporting. .frame positive motion-transmitting means operatively connected at one end to said worm gear means and at the other end to said movable ironing member so that said worm gear means is adapted to turn in lowering direction only during; lowering: of i said movable; ironing member, but :is blocked by 1 said motion-transmitting; means ,ifrom -f urther turning in; lowering die rectionafter said :moyable, ironing member has reached: itslcwered position engaged by said sta Qnaryv wn a-memb r; worm-mean m unted ins disuppo a frame .irotatab y and :slidably in ax aldirecticn 'and meshing with said; worm e r me ns a mid. worm ea eans, p r men n r ends-toslide:s swo fmme nsrini e axialuire n due, to e; Wei ht .of saidm vable ironing member; transmitted :to; said; worm gear eans by s id mo nsimnsmit nsv a s sa d worm. means -.bein; rotatable in -raising; .direction resulting in turning'of vsaid worm geanmeams in raising V directiom and (in: lowering; direction resulting in turning. of saidgworm gear means in lowering. direction;- stop;;.means limitinghsliding movement of said worm means, in said axial di-;

rection turning; means for. turning; said-- worm means in raising and-flowering :dirtectionfi, 7 ing of said worm means in-raising direction-while in engagement with said stop mfiansresulting in its turning. without axial slid-inggmovement while turning of 'saidworm means inopposite 1 direction will first result-in turningof said WOIYHL means in lowering; direction without sliding thereof .until furtherv turning of said worm-gear meansis, blocked, and ,then result inturningot said worm means combined with sliding in opposits. axial direction out ofengagement with said stop. means and ,resilient means mounted on said .frame engagingsaid worm means and urging thesame in ,said raxialdirection at least.

when the-same has slid out of engagement with saidstop means-in saidopposite-axial directiom. said-.resilient means thus exerting pressure in; saidagial, direction on said-,worm means which will be transmitted, thrtiughy said worm gear", means ,andhsaid motion-transmitting;means, to 7 said ,movable, ironing member: 7 increasing the;-

closingpressure. of ,the same.

3. In a .laundry ironing .machine including a supporting framer a -,stationary: ironing member andan ironing rolier adapted toengage said sta-, tionary ironing unember, an; operating arrangement for said ironing roller, comprising: in combination; bearing means rotatably. supporting said ironingroller at its ends and being movably mounted-on said supportingframe so as to permit raisingand-lowering-of said ironing roller, said ironing roller beingblocked by said stationary-ironing member in a lowered position; a

first shaft turnably mounted in said supporting" frame-substantially parallel to the axis of. said ironing roller; motion-transmitting means pivoted at one end thereof to said bearing means "said second shaft in one axial direction until said ironing roller is blocked by said ironing member; and resilient means arranged between the supporting frame and said worm and being compressed when said second shaft moves in an axial direction opposite to said axial direction while said ironing roller and thereby said worm gears are blocked, whereby resilient pressure is exerted by said ironing roller on said stationary ironing member when said second shaft and said worm are rotated.

4. In a laundry ironing machine including a supporting frame, a stationary ironing member and an ironing roller adapted to engage said stationary ironing member, an operating arrangement for said ironing roller, comprising in combination, bearing means rotatably supporting said ironing roller at its ends and being movably mounted on said supporting frame so as to permit raising and lowering of said ironing roller,

, said ironing roller being blocked by said stationary ironing member in a lowered position; a first shaft turnably mounted in said supporting frame substantially parallel to the axis of said ironing roller; motion-transmitting means pivoted at one end thereof to said bearing means and at the other end thereof eccentrically connected to said first shaft; a worm gear fixedly secured to said first shaft; a second shaft extending normal to said first shaft mounted in said supporting frame rotatably and axially movably; means for rotating said second shaft; a worm fixedly secured to said second shaft and meshing with said worm gear on said first shaft, the weight of said raised ironing roller urging said second shaft in one axial direction until said ironing roller is blocked by said ironing member; resilient counterbalance means abutting at one end against said supporting frame and at the other end thereof against one end of said worm; and resilient means abutting at one end against said supporting frame and abutting with its other end against the other end of said worm and being compressed when said second shaft moves in said axial direction opposite to said axial direction while said roller and thereby said worm gear are blocked, whereby resilient pressure is exerted by said ironing roller on said stationary ironing member when said second shaft and said worm are rotated.

5. In a laundry ironing machine including a supporting frame, a stationary ironing member and an ironing roller adapted to engage said stationary ironing member, an operating arrangement for said ironing roller, comprising in comblnation, a pair of bearing means rotatably supporting said ironing roller at its ends and being pivotally mounted on said supporting frame so as to permit raising and lowering of said ironing roller, said ironing roller being blocked by said stationary ironing member in a lowered position; a first shaft turnably mounted in said supporting frame substantially parallel to the axis of said ironing roller; a pair of crank shafts pivoted to said pafi of bearing means; a pair of cranks 6 fixedly secured to said first shaft and operatlvely connected to said pair of crank shafts; a worm gear fixedly secured to said first shaft; a second shaft extending normal to said first shaft mounted in said supporting frame rotatably and axially movably; means for rotating said second shaft; a. worm fixedly secured to said second shaft and meshing with said worm gear on said first shaft, the weight of said raised ironing roller urging said second shaft in one axial direction until said ironing roller is blocked by said ironing member; limiting movement of said second shaft in said axial direction; and resilient means arranged between the supporting frame and said worm and being compressed when said second shaft moves in an axial direction Opposite to said axial direction while said ironing roller and .thereby said worm gear are blocked, whereby resilient pressure is exerted by said ironing roller on said stationary ironing member when said second shaft and said worm are rotated.

6. In a laundry ironing machine including a supporting frame, a stationary ironing member and an ironing roller adapted to engage said stationary ironing member, an operating arrangement for said ironing roller, comprising in combination, bearing means rotatably supporting said ironing roller at its ends and being movably mounted on said supporting frame so as to permit raising and lowering of said ironing roller, said ironing roller being blocked by said stationary ironing member in a lowered position; a first shaft turnably mounted in said supporting frame substantially parallel to the axis of said ironing roller; motion-transmitting means pivoted at one end thereof to said bearing means and at the other end thereof eccentrically connected to said first shaft;.a worm gear fixedly secured to said first shaft; a second shaft extending normal to said first shaft mounted in said supporting frame rotatably and axially movably; means for rotating said second shaft; a worm fixedly secured to said second shaft and meshing with said worm gear on said first shaft, the weight of said raised ironing roller urging said second shaft in one axial direction until said ironing roller is blocked by said ironing member; stop means limiting movement of said second shaft in said axial direction; resilient means arranged between the supporting frame and said worm and being compressed when said second shaft moves in an axial direction opposite to said axial direction while said ironing roller and said worm gear are blocked, whereby resilient pressure is exerted by said ironing roller on said stationary ironing member; and indicating means mounted on said supporting frame adjacent to said second shaft measuring the axial displacement in said opposite direction of the latter and indicating the amount of resilient pressure exerted by said ironing roller on said stationary member.

HENRICUS C. A. ZWAARD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 914,716 Grosse Mar. 9, 1909 1,633,209 Henninger June 21, 1927 2,293,865 Sykes Aug. 25, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 50,408 Netherlands Apr. 17, 1941 427,936 Germany Aug. 4, 1927 

